Last night my car's engine started to make a funny sound. It really sounded like a flat tire, but I had no TPMS alarm and the sound changed its beat along with the engine revs. It was late and I didn't want to stop and check, so I kept on driving with precaution - to no avail. I few miles after the sound started, the battery light came on RED, the steering got heavy and difficult. I still thought I could make it home, but after a few minutes temperature light came up yellow and then red and I knew it was time to stop. Yo guys with N54/55 engines have and electric water pump, but my humble N46 uses a belt driven pump. Tow truck brought me home.

It's such a bummer to get stranded by a simple belt.
Anyway, I just bought the belt at the dealer ($88, should've gone somewhere else to get it), but now it occurs to me that maybe just the belt it's not going to cut it. The original belt was shredded but not torn apart. Is this enough damage for it to fall so dramatically or do these engines use a tensioner of sort?

with the belt off, you should be able to find a seized pulley, idler pulley, water pump, ect...You will know right away if something is not right...all those pulleys (except the motor and drive accessories) should have no resistance at all to spinning.

Motor is obvious, but the power steering, water pump, alternator, etc may offer some reasonable resistance.....

with the belt off, you should be able to find a seized pulley, idler pulley, water pump, ect...You will know right away if something is not right...all those pulleys (except the motor and drive accessories) should have no resistance at all to spinning.

Motor is obvious, but the power steering, water pump, alternator, etc may offer some reasonable resistance.....

jp

You were right. I changed the belt myself, and that was easy to check.
Thanks a lot.